WOMADelaide musicians sing the praises of their home countries for Australian travellers

ARTISTS gathered for WOMADelaide reveal why their home countries should be high on your travel to-do list and what to do when you get there.

Roberto Fonseca on the Malecon in Havana

WOMADelaide has brought together a diverse group of artists from around the world. Here they give an insight into the attractions of their individual countries.

> MAKANA (HAWAII)

What do you love about your homeland?

“O ka onohi o Hawai’i,” Hawai’i is the centre, it is home. Whether born and raised like myself or a visitor from afar, Hawai’i awakens a feeling of having finally arrived home. It is gentle on the body, kind to the spirit, and welcoming to all.

What do you recommend Australians going to your homeland see or do and why?

I encourage everyone who visits Hawai’i to explore both the host culture through its music, dance and customs like poi pounding, talking story and surfing, as well as the current efforts to preserve our unique natural resources – watersheds and reefs are two of many through guides tours.

Danyel Waro, left, recommends exploring on foot.

> DANYEL WARO (REUNION)

Danyel loves his homeland for its mountains and he recommends walking in the volcanic circus of La Reunion (Mafate or Cilaos). It’s hard but fantastic and you can go only by foot to this part of the island.

> ROBERTO FONSECA (CUBA)

Roberto Fonseca on the Malecon in Havana.

What do you love about your homeland?

The spirit and good will of Cuban people and the way they live the music traditions.

What do you recommend Australians going to your homeland see or do and why?

There are so many interesting things to do in Cuba. If just a week of beautiful sun ain’t enough, you definitely have to eat the marvellous traditional creole dishes, visit the beaches on the east, and get to know some locals to really feel the vibe of the island. Oh! And take some dancing classes.

One of the members of Living Room on an Austrian mountain.

> LIVING ROOM (AUSTRIA)

What do you love about your homeland?

When we think of home, the first thing that comes to mind are the mountains, the Alps. We love hiking and climbing and often disappear in the mountains to gain energy, inspiration and silence.

We also love the quality of living that’s – similar to Australia – one of the highest in the world.

Try to find an American who is looking for kangaroos in Austria and give them a hint that two extra letters in the country name would raise his chances. A little bit easier is to visit Vienna and enjoy the beautiful architecture and have a cup of coffee in an old Viennese cafe, maybe with a slice of sachertorte.

> AIRILEKE (PNG)

What do you love about your homeland?

Best thing is just being at home, seeing my family again. My people live on the water, 100m into the sea. It’s so peaceful and quiet, going to sleep to the sounds of waves beneath you, the sun sets right on my back veranda. I have the best rest and sleep when I go home. Aunty and Bubus cooking – and we eat at any time of the day or night! Sometimes if the fishermen come home at 3am, the fire starts up and it’s on.

What do you recommend Australians going to your homeland see or do and why?

Usually Aussies go to the World War 2 memorial places like Kokoda. That walk is pretty spectacular, but there is so much to see in PNG.

But I can recommend two of my favourite places.

Airileke says the Manus Islands offer amazing drumming and hospitable people.

For Aussies I’d say go checkout the Manus islands. They are some of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific and some of the most amazing drumming in the world originates from there. The Manus people are very hospitable people! Some of the best diving in the world is in Manus if you’re into that kind of thing.

The art work that comes out of that community is worthy of anyone’s attention. There was a community arts project that was created after the attempted demolition called the PHAR project (Paga Hill Arts Resistance), which is led by two legendary contemporary PNG artists Ratoos, and Jeffry Feeger. So if you want to get away from the usual tourist thing, go to Paga Hill and buy some art work from the artists themselves.

Or go to one of the highlands’ Sing Sings, which happens in September every year.

> OSAKA MONAURAIL (JAPAN)

What do you love about your homeland?

I think there is so much to love about Japan (also so much to question about Japan). It is one of the very last true old cultures of the world with so many traditions that are only understandable to us. Our heritage is still tied very deeply to a love of nature (Shinto) and peace (Buddhism). I love our traditions of hot baths (onsen), our culture of food that is very different from one region to the next, and the incredibly vibrant music scene that is in Japan.

Osaka Monaurail says you can discove the true Japan in its hot springs.

What do you recommend Australians going to your homeland see or do and why?

I would recommend enjoying the onsen (hot bath) culture – it is here that you really find the true Japan. Japanese people go to hot springs a lot, and it is a focal point of socialising. If you are a music fan, then explore the hundreds of record shops that are in Tokyo alone, with many cheap records for the vinyl lovers. There is so much to see and do in Japan, from fantastic wilderness in the north on the island of Hokkaido to the beautiful tropical beaches on Okinawa.

Buika wants you to “walk on clouds” in Majorca.

> BUIKA (SPAIN)

What do you love about your homeland?

It’s a place of peace, love and exquisite food for the delight of mind and mouth, the one for knowledge and for taste.

What do you recommend Australians going to your homeland see or do and why?

I would recommend them to be ready for a unique experience. Majorca planet is made of magical raw matter as Majorcans, like me. In Majorca you can fly under the sea, walk on the clouds and dive in the streets of the city at night.

> MEHR ENSEMBLE (IRAN)

What do you love about your homeland?

As a musician and artist what I love most about Iran is its literature, diverse traditions and cultures, its breathtaking scenery and architecture. Iran is not a single identity; it is a mix of peoples, places and influences. Travelling from north to south, east to west, you experience something different at every turn; local cultures with their own dance, language, customs and food.

Mehr Ensemble says Iran will surprise Australian travellers.

What do you recommend Australians going to your homeland see or do and why?

I would recommend Australians travelling to Iran try to seek out these diverse cultures and influences themselves – in every corner of the country. Travel widely. Experience all it has to offer: its art, architecture, natural scenery and local cultures. I am sure it will inspire and perhaps even surprise you.

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